Ninjago: Tournament of Elements

Tournament of Elements is the fourth season of the animated television series Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu (titled Ninjago from the eleventh season onward). The series was created by Michael Hegner and Tommy Andreasen. The season aired from 23 February to 3 April 2015, following the third season titled Rebooted. It is succeeded by the fifth season, titled Possession.

The fourth season follows the storyline of the ninja searching for Zane by competing in Master Chen's Tournament of Elements. The season introduces Master Chen as the main antagonist and also several Elemental Masters into the series, who each have individual elemental powers, such as amber, shadow and smoke. The season marked the first time that two seasons were released in one year, replacing the previous schedule of one season released per year.

Main

 * Jillian Michaels as Lloyd Garmadon, the Green Ninja
 * Vincent Tong as Kai, the red ninja and Elemental Master of Fire
 * Michael Adamthwaite as Jay, the blue ninja and Elemental Master of Lightning
 * Brent Miller as Zane, the white/titanium ninja and Elemental Master of Ice
 * Kirby Morrow as Cole, the black ninja and Elemental Master of Earth
 * Kelly Metzger as Nya, Kai's sister
 * Paul Dobson as Sensei Wu, the wise teacher of the ninja
 * Mark Oliver as Sensei Garmadon
 * Jennifer Hayward as P.I.X.A.L. a female nindroid
 * Ian James Corlett as Master Chen/Tox

Supporting

 * Heather Doerksen as Skylor
 * Scott McNeil as Karlof/General Arcturus
 * Doron Bell Jr. as Griffin Turner
 * Kirby Morrow as Paleman/Gravis (episode 37)
 * Andrew Francis as Shade (Shadow)
 * Scott McNeil as Clouse
 * Kathleen Barr as Misako
 * Mark Oliver as Mistaké/Gravis
 * Michael Dobson as Pythor P. Chumsworth
 * Michael Adamthwaite as Bolobo
 * Brent Miller as Ash
 * Paul Dobson as Jacob Pevsner/Warden Noble/Rufus McCallister/Neuro
 * Lee Tockar as Cyrus Borg
 * Brian Drummond as Nuckal/Kruncha
 * Alan Marriott as Dareth/Captain Soto
 * Maryke Handrikese as Camille
 * Alessandro Juliani as Kapau
 * Ian Hanlin as Chope
 * Michael Donovan as Eyezor
 * Brian Dobson as Sumo Zumo

Development
Writers Dan and Kevin Hageman have stated that the season was inspired by the 1973 martial arts film Enter the Dragon. The director of the film Robert Clouse was also the inspiration for the character Clouse, an antagonist in the season.

Animation
The animation for the fourth season was produced at Wil Film ApS in Denmark.

Direction
The Tournament of Elements episodes were directed by Jens Møller, Michael Helmuth Hansen, Peter Hausner, Per Düring Risager and Trylle Vilstrup.

Release
The season premiered on Cartoon Network on 23 February 2015 with the release of The Invitation. The subsequent episodes were released across March and April 2015 until the release of the season finale titled The Corridor of Elders on 3 April of the same year.

Synopsis
The ninja heard that Zane is alive with being rebuilt with titanium and they can get him back by entering Master Chen's Tournament of Elements. However, Chen brought the elemental masters into the tournament just to steal their powers. Kai, Chen's daughter Skylor, the ninja and Garmadon goes against Chen, before he releases any Anocondrai Warriors from attacking Ninjago City.

Ratings
Tournament of Elements continued the popularity of the preceding seasons of Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. Its Monday 6.30pm time slot was the top telecast of the day among boys aged 2–11 and 6–11, and it was the top telecast in its time period among children aged 2–11, 6–11 and all boys.

Critical reception
Reviewer Melissa Camacho for Common Sense Media gave Tournament of Elements a 3 out of 5 star rating and noted that the season contains "lots of action-packed fantasy violence". The reviewer opined, "This colorful, fast-paced action series features the teen Ninja making sense of loss as they continue to learn lessons about loyalty and teamwork. It also highlights the importance of fighting with a sense of morality behind it, which is an interesting angle for an animated show based on toys."

Other media
An associated action game titled Lego Ninjago: Tournament was released on 23 January 2015 for IOS, which was developed by The Lego Group.

Five mini-movies were released in June and July 2015 on the Lego YouTube channel to accompany the season, which focus on the main antagonist, Master Chen. The mini-movies were produced by Wil Film ApS and were titled Chairful What You Wish For, Chen's New Chair, Chair Play Chen, Chair Up Chen and Bad Chair Day.